Andrew j



(No Model.) l

Y A. .L BALLARD.

SELF CLOSING HATCH COVER.

Patented Feb. 26,1884.

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ivenor:

. d. BALLARD,

:TENS4 Plmwbwmkmmnn UNITED SrATEs PATENT GEEICE,

ANDREW J. BALLARD, or ooHoEs, NEW YORK, AssieNoR To THE coHoEs iRoN EoUNDRY AND MAcHiNE coMrANY, or sAMErLAoE.

SELF-CLOSING HATCH-COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 294,108, dated February 26, 1884.

Application filed June 8,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. BALLARD, of Cohoes, in the county of Albany, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self- Closing Hatch-Covers, of which the following is a j specification.

My invention relates to improvements in self-closing hatch-covers.

The object of my invention is to provide an efficient selfY closing cover for a hatchway that is located so closely to the side of a building that the ordinary inflexible covers, which are l adapted to slide horizontally, and which are commonly used for self-closing hatch-covers, cannot be employed, and to this end my invention consists in constructing said hatchcover of separate narrow planks, which are connected together by means of hinge-joints, so as to form, in effect, a exible platform, the

said platform being provided at its opposite edges with friction-rollers that are adapted to run in tracks which are provided with suit- 'able curves for changing the direction of travel of said friction-rollers from a horizontal to a vertical line, so as to produce a corresponding deiiection of the planks composing the platform, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and to which reference is made herein, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved hatch-cover with the nearest track removed, so as to show the underlying parts; Fig. 2, a vertical section of saine at the line X'X; Fig. 3, a like section with the curved portion of the tracks reversed to deflect the flexible platform upwardly, and Fig. 4. an inverted plan view of my jointed hatch-cover.

As represented in the drawings, A is the flexible hatch cover, B the tracks, and C weights for counterbalanoing the weight of the hatch-cover.

The hatch-cover A is composed of separate pieces or planks a, which are connected together by means of thel hinges a', whose pivotal centers are arranged to coincide with the joints between the'pieces a. The pivotal pins of said hinges are extended outwardly, to serve as axles for the friction-wheels a2 to revolve on. The cross-bar a3, to which the weights C are connected, as hereinafter described, is iiexibly connected 'lo the hinge of the outer piece a by means of the links ai, and upon each end of said cross-bar the friction-wheels a5 are placed, so as to engage and run in the tracks B, in the manner hereinafter set forth. The tracks B are each composed of a horizontal portion, b, curved portion b', and vertical Y portion b2, 4and the latter may be arranged in 6o relation to the portion b to standeither downwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or upwardly, as shown in Fig. 3.- The said tracks are made with two projecting flanges, b3, which are arranged parallel to each other at sufficient distance apart to receive the diameter of the friction-wheels c2, so as to form a trough or guide by which the direction of the travel of the friction wheels will be governed. The weights C are connected, by means of a rope 7o or chain, c, which runs over suitable guidepulleys, c', to the cross-bar a3. The said weights I preferably arrange in two or more divisions, that are connected by means of the chain or rope t2 in such manner that in the closing 75 movement of the hatchcover thelower weight,

v3, will be caught on a bracket or shelf, 0*, so

as to relieve the hatch-cover of that portion of the counter-weight. The slack o f the chain c2 permits the said lower weight 4to remain in a So state of rest on the bracket 0*, while the balance of the weights,which remain suspended by the rope c, continue to -exert their power to force the hatch-cover A inwardly to close over the hatchway The entire cover for the hatchway is usually made in two principal divisions which meet in the middleof` the hatchway, and are adapted to slide in opposite directions. Commonly one of said principal divisions is made inflexible, so as to slide in a straight horizontal track, and the closing movement of that division is readily effected by means of weights, in a manner too well known to require a description; but when occasion requires my improvement can be applied to both divisions. The platform or car of thehoisting apparatus is provided, both above and below, with suitable points, d, which are adapted to enter into the joint between the principal divisions of the hatch-cover, and to push the two parts far enough asunder to permit the car or platform to pass freely, either upwardly or downwardly,

IOO

through the hatchway. As the cover A is moved backward from over the hatchivay, the cross-bar a3 is pushed downward intothe vertical portion b2 oi the tracks B, iirst against the resistance of the upper portion of the Weights C, and then, when the slack of the chain 0* is exhausted so as to suspend the Weight c, against the resistance of all the Weights. Vhcn the body of the platform or car has passed through the hatchway, the Weights C will cause the inner edge ofthe cover A to bear against and follow the angled sides of the points d, and effect the closing n1ovement of said cover as rapidly as the angles of said points Will permit. The effect of the links c", when arrangedin relation to the cross-bar c3 and tracks B as herein shown and described, is to give to the Weights C a more perfect control over the cover A whenV the latter is near the terl'nination of its closing movement.

I claim as my invention- 1. rlhe combination7 with a flexible cover, A, fora hatchway, the said cover being connected together by means of hingcjoints a', and provided with a series of friction-wheels` a2, as herein described, of the tracks B, each being composed of a horizontal portion, b, curved portion b', and vertical portion b2, the said tracks being adapted to receive the friction-Wheels c2 in such manner as to govern the direction of the travel of the cover A, as herein specified.

2. The combination, with a 'flexible cover,

`A, for a hatchway, the said cover being jointed together and provided with friction-wheels a2, as herein described, of the tracks B, composed of horizontal portion b, curved portion b, and vertical portion b2, as herein set forth, and the weights C, all being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein specified. 8. The combination, With a flexible cover, A, 'for a hatchway, the cross-bar a, flexibly connected to said cover by means of the links c", and the weights C, connected to said crossbar, of the tracks B, composed of horizontal portions b, curved portions b, and vertical por` tions b, all being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein specified.

ANDREW J. BALLARD. Vitnesses:

JOHN HILTON, RICHARD B. Nicnorrs. 

